City College: Chinese American or Pan-APA Victory?
October 27, 2007
The Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown’s victorious campaign for a community college campus affirmed CAA’s split identity as more “Chinese for Affirmative Action” than the “Center for Asian American Advocacy.” The latter name was the compromise out of a divisive debate a few years ago over Pan-Asian perceptions that Chinese for Affirmative Action’s name was too exclusively advocating for Chinese Americans and affirmative action … Read more
Wedding of the Century
October 27, 2007
An unforgettable week of festive activities preceding a grand wedding was more than your society columnist could resist. So, off she flew, across two continents, to witness a beautiful international wedding that could only be described as the wedding of the year or, perhaps, the wedding of the century.
The elegant Vera Wang-designed invitation, coupled with the splendid events coordinated by Pam Chun, the groom’s mother, foretold an important event that would unite two savvy young people, Ryan C. Leong and Erzsebet Galfi, in marriage on Sept. 15. Read more
Immigration and Political Grandstanding
October 27, 2007
In what could be a preview of politics in the 2008 presidential campaign, voters in Virginia are being bombarded with negative advertising that includes anti-immigrant bashing in the run-up to the state’s November 6 elections. Based on the low national popularity ratings of the Bush administration and the historic defeat of Republican Sen. George Allen in his bid for re-election in 2006, the Democrats are poised to pick up seats in the state House of Delegates and possibly even take control of the state Senate for the first time since 1999.
Negative advertising is nothing new. It is a natural by-product of a corrupt two-party system where third parties are prevented from rising, so major party candidates win by tearing down their opponents.
Instant run-off voting, proportional representation and other innovative tools being used by most of the world’s other democracies, have been found to decrease negative campaigning. Read more
Gala to Raise Money For Nonprofits: Call for organizations to become beneficiaries
October 26, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO — The new nonprofit Legacy Through Giving will host a fund-raiser next spring, benefiting community groups with limited resources.
Founded by husband and wife Michael W. Chan and Macy Mak Chan of the MM Foundation, the group will provide the production, fashion, entertainment and event marketing for the first annual “Giving Through Fashion Gala 2008” on March 22, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame. Read more
Uncle Bob Jindal: Man of No Color
October 26, 2007
The politics of color is changing in America. For people of color, the best path to success may be to become a “person of no color.”
I caution people in evaluating the apparent success of Bobby Jindal.
Jindal, the first Indian American in U.S. history to be elected governor last Saturday — in Louisiana of all places — is what I call a “man without color.” Read more
Jindal Elected Governor of La.
October 26, 2007
Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal was elected governor of Louisiana on Oct. 20 to become the first Indian American to lead a U.S. state.
Jindal, 36, is the Oxford-educated son of Indian immigrants, as well as the youngest governor in the U.S. and the first non-white to be Louisiana’s governor since the 1870s.
“My folks came to this country in pursuit of the American dream,” Jindal said during his victory speech in Baton Rouge on October 20. “And guess what happened — they found the American dream to be alive and well, right here in Louisiana!”
The Republican congressman won more than 50% of the vote in a primary election that tally averted the need for a November runoff election.
Nation Briefs
October 26, 2007
‘Korean Quarterly’ Fund-Raiser
EVENT: Tenth anniversary community outreach celebration and fund-raiser
DESCRIPTION: Korean American performances, silent auction, Korean War photo exhibit.
DETAILS: $25-$30, Oct. 27, 2 – 6 p.m., Christiansen Center, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minn.
CONTACT: (651) 771-8164, koreanquarterly.org
A Disaster Made In China
October 26, 2007
I’ve got good news and bad news about that bridge in Ohio. The good news: we can replace it for only $1 million. The bad news? It’s made in China.
It is amazing to wait for the next story about something made in China. It’s not like people point out something is made in America every time a Boeing 737 burns up, or they recall enough beef and Banquet potpies to feed China for an hour. “Made in Japan” meant shoddy junk when old toys cut from tin cans broke apart. But it was never supposed to kill you or make your kids stupid. And it’s not just dollar store crap — we’re talking Mattel and Fisher Price. Read more
Arts Briefs
October 26, 2007
Asian Comedy Night
EVENT: Presented by Contemporary Asian Theater Scene Read more
Poet Ishle Park Awarded By Women of Color Group
October 25, 2007
On October 28, 2007, the Women of Color Resource Center will honor poet Ishle Park with the 2007 Sister of Fire Award for her award-winning work and activism. Read more
Hot Asian Men Set Off Club’s Smoke Alarm
October 25, 2007
NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT
A merry prankster pulled the fire alarms four times amid Far East Movement’s long-awaited performance at the Finishing the Game opening night party at San Francisco’s Club Six, ruining Justin Lin and Roger Fan’s highlight of the evening. Read more
The Asian American Experience Project Part 1
October 24, 2007
The International Examiner staff talk about their Asian American Experience.
The questions were developed from videos created by the Asia Society, Columbia University and a MySpacer called “Uly”.
The first four questions are answered in this segment:
1) What is your name and heritage? (Who are you?)
2) Where were you born?
3) Talk about growing up in America.
4) What languages do you speak?
5) What food do you like to eat?
6) Do you belong to an Asian American Club or organization?
7) How do you identify yourself in terms of your culture?
8) What is your definition of an Asian American?
10) Image of Asian Americans?
11) What are the challenges of being Asian Americans?
12) Segregate yourselves?
13) Are Asian Americans political?
14) Do you vote?
15) Say good-by in your native tongue